Hornady interlocks seem a bit weak for magnum, need new bullet

[sam700]

I'm thinking I need to switch my deer load in for my .300 mag. Previously, I had used a 165 grain Hornady interlock, but I'm thinking that at a close range at 3300 fps, this bullet might not be up to the task.

Basically, I'm looking for a 165 grain bullet that will work suitably for deer at short range and up to 3300 fps as well as out to 350 yards.

I've used this load for deer at long range before with great success, but recently had a 60 yard shot into the shoulder of a deer where the interlocks failed spectacularly.

I'm thinking of a 168 grain TSX with a boattail. The plus side of this is that I can also use the same load for elk or black bear which simplifies things a bit. The one caviot is that the bullet needs a crimp groove since my gun doesn't like to shoot non crimped ammo for some reason. Also, I like to shoot boattails if I can.

By the way, don't make fun of me for using a .300 for whitetail, it's the only hunting real hunting rifle I own. I figured I was best off with one gun that would work for whitetail at home, elk in Colorado and bear in Alaska rather than trying to stay proficient with 3 hunting rifles.

 

[10 Spot Terminator]

Canging up to the 168 tsx in 300 win mag ,,,,

This is like Deja Vu here for me as I spent many weeks of different 165 gr loads for my Browning A-Bolt 300 Win.Mag and tried the 168 gr. TSX with 73 gr. of IMR 4350 and was getting 3225 fps and .5 in. groups . Point to note this powder is VERY dirty and my groups would start to open up after about 6 rounds . I always clean my gun then fire a fouling round followed by a couple of dry patches before I put her to rest for the next outing and dont get any first round point of impact surprises and the rest follow suit until the bore gets dirty again. To note also tests of this load over 3 seperate sessions showed only a 16 fps. deviation . I got my sweetheart load now and maybe it will work for you too . 10 SPOT

 

[janobles14]

nosler ballistic tips do very well at long and short range. i posted a thread about them a while back then decided to load some. have been quite impressed thus far.

 

[NCsmitty]

Is this a 300 Win. Mag. or a Weatherby Mag.? If it's a Win Mag, 3300fps is a mite high for a 165gr. Never the less, you probably know that you need to test some of the premium bullets that's available. Barnes has some new ballistic tipped leadfree, Nosler accubonds, Swift, Speer Trophy Bear Claw. There are quite a few to choose from but not sure how many fit your criteria of BT with cannelure. Go to Midwayusa.com and look the selection over. They usually show a close-up and specs for the bullet.

NCsmitty

 

[shinz]

What Smitty said, go for one of the bonded or monometal bullets, Hornady Interbonds are probably cheapest & if you're worried about no cannelure for crimping get yourself a Lee Factory Crimp die, these will crimp a non cannelured bullet & in my (& a heap of others if what I read is true) experience, they do not affect accuracy other than positively. I suspect that the accuracy thing with crimping is more likely to be down to that bullet & its seating depth. Perhaps some experimentation is in order here. If lack of neck tension is a hassle, maybe the neck expander needs reducing in diameter by 1 or 2 thou which could be done by chucking the expander stem in a drill & polishing with some fine emery paper.
Steve

 

[Strongbad]

300 Win for deer? No biggie! I use my custom built 338/378 almost exclusively! You'll get no complaints about "too big" from me.

I've got a whole slough of guns in chamberings ending in the word "magnum" and as of late, my preference is towards Accubonds, Scirrocos, and Interbonds just like the other guys mentioned. In that order. I love Nosler Ballistic Tips, but for high speed, I want something bonded. So I go with the previously mentioned choices. I've only run through about a box of the Interbonds, couldn't get them to shoot althought I'm sure they'd perform fine. I've burned through hundreds of Scirroco's and they all performed very well. Same with the Accubonds. My most recent loads for my 338/378 are with the Barnes Tipped TSX. Those shoot very very well. Easily equal to or better than the accuracy I've gotten out of the Noslers or Swifts. Find which one your gun and your wallet agree upon and shoot to your hearts content. BTW, the last load I did for the 300 Win Mag was for my brother's A-Bolt with 180 gr. Accubonds and IMR-7828. Very good shooting load. The same bullet with RL-25 was almost as accurate. I know you said 165's, but I thought I'd atleast try to give you a starting point.

 

[sam700]

It is a 300 win mag, the 26 inch barrel probably helps the velocity a bit. Regarding the interbonds, I'll see how they shoot when crimped with the LFC die.

I'm thinking it might be nice to simplify things a bit and have one load for both elk and deer. I'm wondering what advantages the tipped tsx has over the standard tsx. I'd imagine a slightly higher B/C and it might open a bit quicker.

What about a 150 grain tipped TSX for both elk and deer and black bear. Or would I be better off sticking with the 165-168 grain variety. With a tough bullet like the TSX, on game up to elk size, would I really benefit from a heavier bullet than 150 grains?

 

[NCsmitty]

Barnes MRX

Here's the new MRX in 150 & 165gr.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=825705

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=256208&t=11082005

There probably isn't much difference between the two in performance. Definitely not cheap but will bring home the venison or whatever.

I have a FN Mauser in 308 Norma Mag that loves Nosler ballistic tip 165gr at around 3100+fps.

NCsmitty

 

[Oldcoyote]

"I've used this load for deer at long range before with great success, but recently had a 60 yard shot into the shoulder of a deer where the interlocks failed spectacularly."

How did it fail?

 

[LeonCarr]

For a good all around load the 180 Partition in the .300 Winnie is hard to beat. I have a buddy with a Remington 700 Sendero and that is the only load he shoots.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr